Fitness camp to raise cash for veterans fighting stress (From Malvern Gazette)

Fitness camp to raise cash for veterans fighting stress

6:50pm Monday 14th January 2013 in News By James Connell

A FORMER soldier and fitness instructor has set up a weight loss camp which will also raise money for veterans battling post-traumatic stress disorder.

Anthony Taylor, a former corporal in the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, is to lead a revolutionary weight loss programme with all proceeds for his services going to PTSD Resolution, a charity which helps veterans, Territorial Army and reservists struggling to reintegrate into a normal work and family life as a result of service in the Armed Forces.

Former servicemen can suffer flashbacks, nightmares, anger and depression – often leading to violence, alcohol and substance abuse, job loss, family breakdown and even suicide, the charity says.

Mr Taylor, aged 41, of Worcester, is already taking part in a treadmill challenge in Hereford High Street on February 16, which he hopes will raise £1,000 for the charity he says is close to his heart.

The challenge involves being on a treadmill for 12 hours and he will cover the equivalent of more than 60 miles. To help raise even more he hopes to launch the fund-raising fitness camp on Pitchcroft in Worcester next month once the flood waters have receded.

The programme will involve all-over body exercises and Mr Taylor also hopes participants can do some of the exercises at home so they do not waste time or money at the gym.

Mr Taylor is seeking 10 “tried everything and failed” volunteers aged in their 30s or 40s who are willing to invest 28 days of their time and effort into the course in exchange for more than £200 worth of training, coaching and nutritional advice. Mr Taylor said the money from the training will go straight to PTSD Resolution.

He said: “This promises to bring about change in their appearance, weight and lifestyle. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who is 100 per cent serious about finally getting the results that have always eluded them.

“The course will strip pounds of unwanted body-fat, make you much stronger, fitter and more flexible. In fact, your body will look different.

“I decided to launch the 28-day super loss camp to finally destroy the myth that you need to spend hours in the gym in order to get results.

“The lucky 10 volunteers will be blown away by the results.

“My aim is to educate people and take them away from the one-size-fits-all approach adopted by so many gyms and weight loss management classes.

“All I am asking is for 10 volunteers who have tried the diets and Zumba classes.”

Mr Taylor hopes to not only help people change their bodies but create what he calls ‘a mind shift’ to change the way they look at foods and help them keep the weight off once the programme has finished.

For more details, visit taylormadefitness.co or e-mail anthony@taylormadefitness.co.uk